Chinese windmill palm

A hardy palm.

Common name : Chinese windmill palm

Scientific name : Trachycarpus fortunei

Family : Melanthiaceae

Category : Trees

Type of plant : Perennial

Sun loving

Trachycarpus fortunei - the Chinese windmill palm - is a palm in the family Arecaceae, native to central China
Trachycarpus fortunei is a fan palm, growing to 12–20 m (40–70 ft) tall on a single stem up to 15–30 centimetres (6–12 in) wide, with 140–190 centimetres (55–75 in) long leaves.
Windmill palm is one of the hardiest palms, and tolerates cool, moist summers as well as cold winters.

Sowing & planting

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Caracteristics

Exposition

Water needs

Granulométrie

plants.granulometry_3

Frost-resistance

High

Zone USDA

7b

Height

100 - 1500

pH

6 - 8

Plant my chinese windmill palm

In open soil, plant in spring in a spot sheltered from the wind, warm, drained, fresh, rich, in semi shade.
Dig a hole three times the size of the root ball, and plant without burying the base of the stem. Tamp the soil well while you put it back in the hole. Do not mix the soil layers. Form a large hollow, and water with at least two watering cans.
In pots, plant in loam mixed with potting soil, and put gravel at the bottom of the tank for good drainage. Choose a pot as large as possible.

Sow my chinese windmill palm

After soaking the seeds overnight, the seeds may be sown in the spring at 19 to 24 ° C.

Repot my chinese windmill palm

Every two or three years, repot your palm tree, cut 1/3 of the roots, and replace 1/3 of the earth. If it is too big to be handled you can replace the top layer of soil with new potting soil, or some compost on about ten centimeters.

Water my chinese windmill palm

Water the palms the first year after planting, and also if yours is potted, as soon as the soil has dried since the previous watering, without ever soaking them. Always water with water at room temperature: the palm tree does not appreciate cold water!

Prune my chinese windmill palm

Cut off the dry leaves.

Shelter my chinese windmill palm

Keep your potted palm trees sheltered from frost by bringing them inside, near a window but protecting them from the sun.

Put outside my chinese windmill palm

In April-May, take out your pots sheltered for the winter and place them in a place sheltered from the winds.

Check on my chinese windmill palm

The butterfly larva Paysandisia archon is currently active in the south of France, and digs galleries in the plant. Cut and burn, or a treatment with nematode Steinernema carpocapsae, as a preventive, is possible between March and November.

Spray my chinese windmill palm

To compensate for the low air moisture inside, you can spray the palms with non-calcareous water and place a cup filled with clay balls and water under the plant.
Remember to regularly remove the dust that is deposited on the palms with a wet sponge: the leaves will perform better photosynthesis!